Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-05-06
Seven Wonders Of the World.

that we ought to know all about
| them"
perhaps you had better ask your
brother Fred, who has just left col
lege, to tell you obout them"
"IIe don't know, grandpa, for / did
ask him, ana he said such an inquisi'
tive boy as | am, was one of the big
gest wonders that he knew anything
about"
"WeIl, one Of the ancient wonders
was the Hanging Gardens at Baby.
lon."
"Did they hang in the air like the
Brooklyn Bridge p inquired Irwin
"0h, no they were connected with
the royal palace, and were about fouI
hundred feet square at the bottom,
being supported on several tiers OF
open arches, built one over the other
aud the top, which was about seventy
five feet high, was covered with o
large mass Of earth from which grew
flowers, shrubs, andeven large etrees."
"How did the people water the gar
dens ~ inquired Irwin.
"There were fountains aud large
reservoir on the top, supplied with
water from the river Euphrates.
This river ran through the city Of
Babylon, and the two portions of the
city were connected by stone bridge.
The high gates and broad OF Baby
lon are mentioned in the Bible, aud
the walls were noted for their height,
thickness and strength"
"What was another Of the wonders,
grandpa ?"
"Well the Pharos al Alexandria
was the first lightbearing tower that
we have any record of. II was built
of white stone, and stood upon a
craggy rock on the island of Pharos,
near Alexandria, in Egypt II was
three hundred feet high, and its light
could be seen for many miles. Jose
phus states that its 'beaming summit
might be seen for three hundred
stadeu,' or forty English miles"
"Who built the Pharos9'
'It was twelve years in building
Sostratus was the artisan, aud he inn
mortalized his name by inscribing il
upon the Pharos but il was erected
under the reign Of Ptolemy Philadel-
phus, B. G. 1882, the same king who
commanded the Septuagint or Old
Testament TO be undertaken in the
Hellenic versions. The lighthouse,
was illuminated by huge wood fires.
Before this time marainers were
warned at night of their APP
proach to land by coal ar wood fires,
that were built on prominent head
lands"
.sWell, grandpa, what was the next
of the wonders?"
"The Olymphian Zens, orthe colos-
sal statue of Jupiter at Olympia,
which was the last great work of
Phidias. II was seated statue,
made of ivory and gold, and, includ-
Ing the throne, It was fifty-hve feet
in height It's temple was built on
the model ofthe Parthenon at Athens.
Jupiter was considered the king and
father Of the gods, and supposed TO
have universal power In the earth
aud air. lie gave the rain, the thun-
der aud lightning, aud the storm and
calm were supposed 10 be under his
control. This statue was erected be-
tween B. @. 432 aud 43S, and in A. ID.
| 36l il continued 10 receive the hom-
age OF Greece. Epictetus says that
ii was considered misfortune for
any ono to die without having seen
this masterpiece Of Phidias."
"The worship Of Jupiter was uni
versal, though his name varied TO the
country that sacrificed to him. You
perhaps remember that when Paul
went to Lystra he found a temple OF
Jupiter before that city. Jupiter was
generally represented as seated on a
throne, holding thunderbolts In his
raised hand, sceptre in the other,
with an eagle at his feet.
"Irwin, do you remember that
when Paul was in Ephcsus ariot was
created by Demetrlus among the
craftsmen?" g JE SO n "
"Yes, grandpa, he was afraid the
people would believe Paul's words,
aud then his trade Of making silver
shrines would be gone"
"And what did they cry2p. iAs
"The mob cried great is Diana OF
the Ephesians.'"
eyes, the Temple OF Diana was
built at the common charge OF all the
Asiatic States. II was four hundred
and twenty-five feet long, two huns
dred aud twenty-five broad, and was
supported by one hundred and twen-
ty-seven columns ofpure Parian mar
Bile; each column was sixty feet high
and each furnished by a different
king. This temple was burned on
the night of Alcxander's nativity,
and was then rebuilt. Diana was
then believed to have fallen down
from heaven, and the public games
were connected with her worship
Especially was the month of May
sacred oher, and large mandatory
grew up at Ephesus OF portable
shrines of Diana, which were sold to
strangers and carried with them on
Journeys or set up to worshipin their
houses"
"You have told me about four won
ders, grandpa, and If You are not too
tired, would like to hear about the
rest of them"
II am only too glad to see you IN
terested in your studies ana will now
speak of the Colossus OF Rhodes.
mia. .roe n ,xt..o,,tf,, eta tuo If A pnoltn